Hybrid Striped Bass in Virginia
Where hybrid striped bass swim in Virginia, and what may be kept.
- 4 a daybag
- 15 lbs. 13 oz.record
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hybrid striped bass in the Old Dominion
Virginia freshwater rules group hybrid striped bass under the heading "Landlocked Striped Bass and Landlocked Striped Bass X White Bass Hybrids". How many to keep, word for word: 4 per day in the aggregate. Length rule as printed: No fish less than 20 inches.
Claytor Lake produced the state hybrid striped bass mark of 15 lbs. 13 oz. in 2016. DWR names hybrid striped bass at 5 waters with pages here; Lake Anna, Claytor Lake and Occoquan Reservoir come first. The digest rewrites the rule on 4 waters, Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Leesville Dam and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Union Street Dam (Danville) and Claytor Lake and its tributaries included.
Hybrid Striped Bass (Morone chrysops × saxatilis), Temperate Basses (Moronidae).
Statewide creel and length limits as printed (page updated August 17, 2026), 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026.
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| Where it applies | Row as printed | Creel | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| statewide | Landlocked Striped Bass and Landlocked Striped Bass X White Bass Hybrids | 4 per day in the aggregate | No fish less than 20 inches |
Statewide creel and length limits as printed (page updated August 17, 2026), 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026.
Local hybrid striped bass lines in the Virginia digest
| Water as printed | Group | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Leesville Dam and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Union Street Dam (Danville) | October 1–May 31: 2 per day in the aggregate (combined) No striped bass or hybrid striped bass less than 20 inches or greater than 26 inches; June 1–September 30: 4 per day in the aggregate (combined) No length limit | |
| Claytor Lake and its tributaries | September 16–June 30: 2 per day in the aggregate, no striped bass or hybrid bass less than 20 inches; July 1–September 15: 4 per day in the aggregate; no length limit | |
| Lake Gaston | 4 per day in the aggregate (combined); October 1–May 31: No striped bass or hybrid striped bass less than 20 inches; June 1–September 30: No length limit | |
| Smith Mountain Lake and its tributaries, including the Roanoke River upstream to Niagara Dam | 2 per day in the aggregate (combined); November 1–May 31: No striped bass 30 to 40 inches; June 1–October 31: No length limit |
Water-specific exceptions as printed, 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026.
Top Virginia hybrid striped bass by weight
| Weight as printed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 15 lbs. 13 oz. | Claytor Lake | 3-16-2016 |
State Record Freshwater Fish as of 9-2-2025 (keeper: Virginia DWR (State Record Freshwater Fish list as of 9-2-2025); angler names left off here), read November 6, 2026.
Where DWR lists hybrid striped bass in Virginia
- Lake Anna9,600 acres, Louisa County
- Claytor Lake4,363 acres, Pulaski County
- Occoquan Reservoir2,100 acres, Fairfax County
- Flannagan Reservoir1,143 acres, Dickenson County
- New RiverCarroll County
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Fish grouped with hybrid striped bass here
- Striped Bass4 a day
- White Bass5 a day
- White Perchno daily cap
- Alabama Bassno daily cap
- Alewifeno possession
- American Eel25 a day
- American Shadno possession
- Black Crappie25 a day
Piscifun kit lined up for a day on Virginia hybrid striped bass
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Old Dominion water near Hybrid Striped Bass, on camera
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Hybrid Striped Bass across Virginia: reader questions answered
How many hybrid striped bass can go home from a Virginia water?
It reads 4 per day in the aggregate; the length column says No fish less than 20 inches.
When was the Virginia hybrid striped bass record set?
15 lbs. 13 oz., from Claytor Lake in 2016.
Where do hybrid striped bass turn up in Virginia?
DWR names it on 5 Virginia pages here, Lake Anna, Claytor Lake and Occoquan Reservoir included.
Is the hybrid striped bass rule the same on every Virginia water?
Virginia's digest has 4 waters with special wording, Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Leesville Dam and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Union Street Dam (Danville) for one.
Does Virginia DWR stock hybrid striped bass?
No stocking date names it.
Is one Virginia license enough for hybrid striped bass?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older.
What is the Latin name DWR gives hybrid striped bass?
Morone chrysops × saxatilis; family Temperate Basses (Moronidae), per the DWR species profile.
When can I fish for hybrid striped bass in Virginia without a license?
Virginia DWR set Free Fishing Days for June 5–7, 2026: no freshwater fishing license needed, all other rules apply. The daily creel still counts.
Plan a Virginia day after hybrid striped bass
The waters linked above list piers and ramps.